The Transguard Group, an Emirates Group company, has announced the appointment of Danica Al Kharfan as strategic development director and Jamie Wilks as business development director.

The appointments come at a time when demand for outsourcing in the UAE is estimated to grow by 10 per cent annually and the regional FM industry is forecast to grow to $9 billion by 2014, according to business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.   

Al Kharfan takes on a group-wide role with the remit to develop long-term strategic partnerships with targeted business groups and companies across the Middle East, while Wilks is responsible for growing the facilities management (FM) and manpower outsourcing business, a statement from the company said.

“Strategic business development is the lifeblood of any successful company especially a multi-faceted facilities management group with 16,000 employees. Transguard aims to be aggressive this year in pursuit of its medium and long-term strategic goals, especially building the outsourcing business and identifying new markets within the FM sector,” said Geoff Shewry, deputy managing director, Transguard Group.

“Al Kharfan and Wilks will both play an integral role in developing Transguard’s new business strategy by identifying and securing additional revenue streams and fostering successful and sustainable customer relationships,” he added.

With a highly successful background in international hospitality, Al Kharfan joins Transguard Group from Signature Clubs International in Bahrain and Dubai, where she spent three years as corporate director of membership and marketing; following on from similar high profile roles with Club Corporation of America, Ritz-Carlton Hotels and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

British national, Wilks began his career in the IT & telecommunications sector, 17 years ago, before branching out for over a decade into professional recruitment, where he established and developed several successful businesses in both the UK and Middle East, the statement said. His industry expertise covers real estate and construction, FM, and the FMCG and ICT sectors, with a recent focus on developing the UAE outsourcing market.

Transguard is an outsource market leader providing skilled and semi-skilled workforces for organisations across the region. With the launch of Transguard Themis, in June last year, Transguard’s capability was extended into white collar roles, filling a large and pre-identified market niche.

“Wilks’ role perfectly complements Danica’s strategic focus, and their experience and respective skills will add a new dimension to our team, ensuring that Transguard grows its market share in what experts believe is an industry displaying healthy, sustainable double-digit growth,” Shewry concluded. – TradeArabia News Service